HYDERABAD, March 31: The Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) staged a protest rally here on Sunday against the greater Thal canal project.

The rally, in which a large number of women also participated, began from the courts building and after marching on Fatima Jinnah Road, Haider Chowk and Risala Road, culminated at the Hyderabad Press Club.

The participants of the rally carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the Thal canal project.

Speaking on the occasion, JSMM leader Asghar Shah said that the bureaucracy and the army was trying to deprive Sindh of its due share of water.

He said that through the construction of the Thal canal, the fertile agricultural lands of Sindh would be rendered barren and the barren land of Punjab would be cultivated.

Hussain Bux Thebo of the Sindh National Council said that the rulers were the enemies of the country and they were trying to break Pakistan.

JSMM Leader Bashir Shah said that the issue of water was a matter of life and death for the people of Sindh and added that by launching a joint struggle, Sindh could foil Punjab’s nefarious designs.

Ms Mehwash Bhutto said that the water of Sindh was being stolen for several years and urged the Sindh people to prepare themselves for struggle for the due share of the river water.

The speakers stressed the need for unity among the parties and groups to launch a joint struggle against the Thal canal project.

Meanwhile, the activists of the Sindh Hari Committee observed a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Sunday to protest against the construction of the greater Thal canal and the excesses of the food department against the small growers.

Talking to newsmen, a central leader of the committee, Comrade Zamir Lashari, said that the greater Thal canal was an anti-Sindh project and it was the other shape of the Kalabagh dam.

He demanded that conspiracies against Sindh should be stopped.

He also demanded to establish Hari courts to provide justice to peasants.

Mr Lashari also demanded of the authorities concerned to take notice of the excesses of the food department officials who were purchasing wheat from the big landlords and ignoring small growers and haris.

He said that wheat should be purchased from small growers and haris on government rates.

PAKISTAN DAY: The activists of the Khadim-i-Pakistan staged a rally in connection with the Pakistan Day outside the press club here on Sunday.